High displacement air pump

ABSTRACT

The prior art has used pitched blades attached to a stationary motor normally electric to move air within the confines of a structure or room. The preferred invention incorporates a series of solid discs. The discs are affixed to a stationary electric motor and thus rotate around a central axis. The discs are equally spaced and centrally perforated in a manner that will allow air to flow in high volumes through the perforations and pass along the discs thus exiting symmetrically between each disc perpendicularly to the flow of air that is at its entrance.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In order to maintain a level of human comfort within a dwelling the forced movement of air is employed to make one feel cooler. For the purpose of demonstrating a clear example of the preferred invention its use as a ceiling fan is selected. The prior art employs pitched blades when rotated by the motor the movement of air caused by the fan will create an artificial breeze. When temperatures are warm, this artificial breeze aids in a feeling cooler as the breeze passes over ones body.

Since the middle of the 20^(th) Century systems such as central air-conditioning were incorporated in dwellings, to control the internal temperature of homes during summer months. Those systems added heating elements to have a singular central system for the home owner. However limitations in the distribution of the heat or cold produced by these systems have demonstrated that an uneven distribution within a room or enclosed area of a structure lends itself to the addition of a ceiling fan to supplement the circulation of air within those confines for the comfort of the user.

As stated the deficiencies that are part of the heating and or cooling system have been partially addressed by the use of a ceiling fan that obviously increases the movement of air within the confines of a room, the normal operating state of the ceiling fan is for its operation to be continuous. This continuous operation occurs while the heating/cooling system is cycled from operating to its off state.

Another claimed benefit of the prior art bladed ceiling fan is a overall reduction in energy consumption caused by the ability to alter the set temperature of the heating/cooling system to reduce its time of operation yet provide the user the level of comfort with a lower duty cycle of the centralized heating/cooling system.

The known physical property of air lends itself to the supplemental aid of a ceiling fan. To be specific, the fact that cooler air that has a greater density will seek a level lower with warmer air rising. The fan of the prior art will drive down the warmer air at the ceiling level in an attempt to create a higher state of movement within the confines of a room thus an attempt to equalize the distribution of the cool air when the cooling air source system is in use. Most ceiling fans of the prior art incorporate an ability to reverse the flow of air by reversing the direction of rotation of the fan blades. The purpose of the reverse flow is to enhance the distribution of warm air when the central heating feature of the heating/cooling system is being used, during the winter months. During the reverse flow of operation the warmer air at the ceiling is circulated across the ceiling and the desired effect is for this movement to create a circulation that distributes the room air with greater equality.

Important to note is that all of the ceiling fans of the prior art attempt to gain the improvements in comfort to the user by moving air parallel to the vertical surfaces of the room and thus perpendicular to the horizontal surfaces of the room. Thus the motion of the air circulation of the prior art is limited to a single column of forced air commonly found at the center of the room, or for lager rooms multiple fans are affixed to the ceiling. For the purpose of clarity the preferred embodiment will describe the preferred invention when adopted as a single unit mounted in the center of an average room in a dwelling.

As previously stated the pitched blade ceiling fan of the prior art forces a singular column of air from it position on the ceiling of a room perpendicular to the horizontal surfaces of a room.

The prior art uses the movement of the single vertical column of air to strike one of the horizontal surfaces of the room thus requiring an abrupt 90 degree turn of that column of air. In an attempt to circulate the air in order to equalize or homogenize the natural hot and cold layers, the prior art is deficient towards that purpose.

As will be seen by one skilled in the prior art the preferred invention greatly advances the basis of the ceiling fan paddle blade system to accomplish its stated goals.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore a general object of the invention to provide an air pump apparatus that will meet the objectives and minimize limitations of the type previously described.

It is a specific object of the invention to provide an air pump that is forcing its output laterally to its plane of rotation.

It is another specific object of the invention to provide complete circulation and mixing of air of different temperatures when used within the confines of a room.

It is another specific object of the invention to disperse its high volume of air displacement in all directions (360°) parallel to its plane of rotation.

It is another specific object of the invention to pass cooling air symmetrically around the drive motor thus adding to its useful life.

It is another specific object of the invention to allow the users of the prior art paddle blade(s) to refit and replace those blade(s) with the preferred invention. Thus overcoming the limitations of the prior art without the cost of complete replacement of all the components of the prior art.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

In order to provide a solution to the deficiencies of the prior art, a preferred embodiment of the present invention provides a high volume air pump, comprised of multiple disc(s) stacked equally and then rotated around a central axis. The rotating disc(s) are manufactured in a fashion that allows air to enter from a central opening in the disc(s) and then exit in all directions via equal spaces between the array of disc(s) at a high volume.

THE DRAWINGS

Objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of embodiments taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a top view of a single disc of the preferred invention.

FIG. 2 shows a horizontal view of a single disc of the preferred invention.

FIG. 3 is a depiction of the disc array adapter mounting plate.

FIG. 4 is a horizontal cut away view of the preferred invention depicting its mounting to a drive motor.

FIG. 5 shows the path of air flow that is the preferred invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The primary feature of the preferred invention that improves the prior art is the circulated high volume of air emitted 360 degrees in its plane of rotation thus having the air follow a path that is parallel to the horizontal surfaces of the room when installed. FIG. 1 is a top view of a single disc of the preferred invention 101. Each disc 101 is manufactured identically with an opening, the air entry hub 103 that will allow air to flow into the array of disc(s) 401. 102 is a hole drilled through the disc 101 and is repeated in a circular pattern and equally spaced approximately one inch outwardly from the edge of the air entry hole 103. The purpose of the multiple hole(s) 102 is to provide passage of a mounting and disc support bolt 402 through each disc 101 on the air pump disc array 401. In addition, bolt(s) 402 secure the drive motor mounting adapter plate 301 to the disc(s) array 401 as well as to the drive motor 406. Regardless if the preferred invention is manufactured new or is used to replace the paddle blade(s) of the current art. The material used for the manufacturing of the preferred invention disc(s) 101, or the adapter plate 301 can be plastic, laminated wood, wood or waste material composite, fiber glass or any semi-rigid current or future material. The structure of the disc(s) 101 may require the use of ribbing or other stiffing technique to maintain a rigid disc that will maintain its shape while hanging from the ceiling. However a smoothed surface is preferred for the preferred rotating disc(s) 101.

The disc(s) 101 of the preferred invention are practically limited as to diameter or material selected for construction. With regard to a material used for the construction of the disc(s) 101, selection of plastic, metals or fiberglass resin materials will yield adequate for this purpose.

FIG. 2 shows a horizontal view of a single disc of the preferred invention 201. Each disc(s) 201 in the disc array 401 is identical in its manufacture. 202 describes the air entrance hub that is cut into, or formed when manufactured. The air entrance hub 202 allows air to enter the preferred invention as well as allowing for clearance of the disc array around the drive motor 406 when affixed to an existing ceiling fan of the prior art as a replacement, or when newly manufactured. In addition and due to the intrinsic nature of the preferred invention cooling air is passed directly around the drive motor 406 when the preferred invention is employed in any configuration. 203 shows the thickness of disc(s) 101 which is uniform in the disc array 401, the determination of the dimension of 203 is dependent upon the construction material of the preferred invention, such thickness is selected to maintain rigidity of each disc in a horizontal plane as dictated by the material selected.

FIG. 3 is a depiction of the disc array adapter mounting plate 301, it can be manufactured of the same construction material that is aforementioned that is suitable for the pump disc(s) 101. The adapter plate 301 is comprised of two concentric rings 305 and 308 attached to each other by a plurality of connecting stiffeners 303. The connecting stiffeners 303 may be in the same plane as the concentric rings 305 and 308 or they may be shaped such as to aid in the flow and movement of air entering through the space 306 thus proceeding to the pump air entrance hub 202 of the disc array 401.

The outer ring 308 of the disc array adapter plate 301 has holes 304 drilled through it to match the hole pattern of the disc(s) 102 thus allowing the disc array mounting bolt 402 to pass through the plate 301 and disc array stack 401 securing the plate 301 to the disc array 401 with a nut, in addition available fastening techniques of varied methods may be employed to complete the disc array.

The inner ring 305 is drilled with hole(s) 304 to provide mounting of the disc array adapter plate 301 to the drive motor 406. The preferred invention allows for universal replacement of the prior art paddle blade configuration due to the inner ring 305 of the disc array adapter plate 301 and hole(s) 304 drilled to match ceiling fan flywheel blade mounting points of any existing ceiling fan flywheel of the prior art or when the preferred invention is newly manufactured. The circular space 307 which is interior to the inner ring 305 is to accommodate all lighting fixtures that are common to the prior art ceiling fan when the replacement with the preferred invention is accomplished by its user.

FIG. 4 is a horizontal cut away view of the preferred invention depicting its mounting to a drive motor 406. The disc array 401 when completely assembled to disc array adapter plate 405 is then screwed or bolted to the drive motor 406. The motor turns around stationary drive shaft 407. The disc array 401 is mounted to the disc array adapter plate 405 by use of bolt 402. Between each disc 101 of disc array 401 spacer(s) 403 are placed to ensure that equal and uniformed space is maintained between each disc 101 comprising the disc array 401. The air entrance 404 as depicted shows the open space surrounding the motor 406. The preferred invention as a unit should not have less then three discs 101 in order to have adequate flow. A plurality of disc(s) 101 may be added when an increase of volume is needed by the user at the same rotational speed. The formula below can be used to describe the airflow of the preferred invention.

P2−P1=(fluid density×angular velocity²)÷2(R2² −R1²)

Where P2 and P1 are pressures, and R2 and R1 are the radius differences.

As described above the prior art is limited to a single column of air that it can displace. This singular column of air is limited by the diameter of the blades rotating about the hub of the fan; the single column is limited to the center of the room in a typical installation of a ceiling fan. The single column of air has a limited effect to any point lateral to that column until contact is made with a horizontal surface of the room. In addition the single column of air must make a 90 degree turn, and in the case of summer use [down draft] it will have to climb back to the ceiling.

The preferred also lends itself to scaling of its diameter and number of disc(s) 101 dependent upon the application.

FIG. 5 shows the path of air flow that is the preferred invention. Air 501 enters through the air entry hub 504 symmetrically when a rotational force given by the motor 505 is applied to the disc array 401. After air 501 enters the array it turns 90 degrees and is expelled out the open end of the disc array 401 360 degrees or in all directions horizontal to the ceiling of a room in which the preferred invention is used.

In describing the invention, reference has been made to preferred embodiments and illustrative advantages of the invention. The subject invention, however, is not limited to residential ceiling fans. Those skilled in the art and familiar with the instant disclosure of the subject invention may recognize additions, deletions, modifications, substitutions, and other changes which fall within the purview of the subject invention and claims.

SUMMARY OF MAJOR ADVANTAGES OF THE INVENTION

After reading and understanding the foregoing detailed description of an inventive high displacement air pump apparatus in accordance with preferred embodiments of the invention, it will be appreciated that several distinct advantages of the subject high displacement air pump apparatus are obtained.

At least some of the major advantages include providing a disc array 401 made of a plurality of materials suitable for the application. The disc array 401 is perforated in a pattern 102 that will allow the vertical stacking of the disc(s) 101 to be accomplished to a number desired by the user. The disc array 401 when rotated by a drive motor 406 will intake air via the open air intake hub 103 and expel that air at a high volume, relative to the prior art, in all directions 360 degrees parallel to the direction of rotation. When used as a replacement to the prior art ceiling paddle fan the induced circulation homogenizes the air within the room to cause even temperature distribution of the heated or conditioned air within. 

1. A high volume air pump comprising: said disc perforated with a central air entrance hub; said plurality of aforementioned discs stacked in a vertical array; said portion of said plurality of discs attached to a adapter plate; said drive motor attached to the disc array via the adapter plate to allow rotation of said array;
 2. The high volume air pump as defined in claim 1 wherein: said plurality of discs are made of any suitable material that can maintain the rigidity desired;
 3. The high volume air pump as defined in claim 1 wherein: said plurality of discs is provided in at least one disc array;
 4. The high volume air pump as defined in claim 1 wherein: said plurality of discs are perforated to allow any variant of discs to define an array;
 5. The high volume air pump as defined in claim 1 wherein: said plurality of discs are attached to a concentric ring adapter plate;
 6. The high volume air pump as defined in claim 1 wherein: said drive motor attached to the disc array to allow rotation of said array;
 7. The high volume air pump as defined in claim 5 wherein: said adapter plate second inner ring is perforated that will allow the disc array to be attached to the drive motor;
 8. The high volume air pump as defined in claim 7 wherein: said air flow of the high volume air pump will pass around the drive motor to cool the drive motor when operating; 